Display cap ball-point pen



June 29, 1965 w. SHEA 4 DISPLAY CAP BALL-POINT PEN Filed June 21, 1963FIG INVENTOR." WARREN SHEA BDV M6 ATTO-RN EY 3,191,329 j DISPLAYCAPBALL-POINT PEN i Warren Shea, Jersey City, NJ assignorto Radiant PenCorp., Kenilworth, NJ. Filed June 21, 1963, Ser. No. 289,534 4 Claims.(Cl. 1 -334) 'I'his invention relates to a ball-point pen, and moreparticularly to a pen provided with an internal arrange- -ment fordisplaying printed or colored materials.

Display pens are desirable for carrying messages vor for ornamentalreasons. Printing on the outside of the pen is subject to constant wearwhich eventually causes illegibility of theprinting or ornamentation.

If the display `material is simply inserted under the barrel, it is freeto move, and sometimes is lost to view.

Where .a pocket was provided, a split barrel or grooved sleeve generallywas used which were neither dust proof nor easy to manufacture.

In Patents Nos. 3,077,691l and 3,077,692, I provided a pen barrel withan anchored inner sleeve upon which the printed message or decorationwas placed. Alternatively a separate display sheet was wrapped upon thesleeve before insertion into the barrel.

f I have`found however that during use, when displayed in the barrel ofthe pen, the advertising material is hidden by the ngers.

' Accordingly, it is 'an object ofthe pr'esentinvention -to provide adisplay pen wherein the display is exposed to View even when the pen isin use. Thismay be in addition to the display space, if provided, in thebarrel.

The foregoing object of the invention can be accomplished by placing thedisplay within the cap of the pen.

H owever, placing an inner `sleeve into the cap as Vwas `,clone in thebarrel, requires an accommodation for the 4complicated shapes-on theinner surface ofthe `cap in most types of^projects-and retractmechanisms, The

`principal object of the invention was solved by providing -an auxiliarycap, and'- forming a compartment between the auxiliary cap and the capitself for the display results obtained as will be apparent from the pendescribed in the following specication, particularly pointed out in theclaims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. l is front elevation of the display cap ball-point penincorporating the invention.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinally sectioned view of the same.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the pen showing the various parts. V

FIG. 4 is a modification of the auxiliary cap anchoring structure.

FIG. 5 is still another modication of the same.

Referring more in detail to the drawing, reference numeral designatesthe display cap of the ball-point pen, which is ordinarily threaded .at11 to attach it tothe barrel.

The barrel 12 contains an internal bore 13 for the spring 14 seated onthe ledge 16, the centrally positioned writing cartridge 18 having thewriting point 20, and ears 22 for compressing the spring against theledge 16. The bar-rel is externally threaded at 23 to engage threads 11of the cap.

United States Patent() npartrnent need be'about .004 inch in thickness.

ice l i 2 The Vcap 10 contains a push plunger project-retract mechanismwhich may comprise the push plunger 24 terminating in a circular set ofteeth 26; an inner rotat- .able shaft 28 seated within the recess 30 ofthe plunger 24; and a set of -teeth 32 mounted on the shaft 28 andengaging the teeth 26. The teeth 32 extend slightly beyond teeth 26 toengage projecting teeth 34 moulded on the inside surface of the cap.Between the teeth 34 .of the cap, grooves 36 are provided to permitteeth 32 to slide therein when moved into proper position by the -pushplunger 24.4 The grooves 33 between teeth 32 on shaft 28, and grooves 27betweenY teeth 26 on plunger `24, permit teeth 32 and 26 to beaccommodated in grooves 36. Thus the shaft 28 is rotated by the plungerteeth tosuccessively cause teeth 32 to engage teeth 34 and remain incartridge projecting position, or be projected past teeth 34 and whenrotated by teeth 26 to fall into the grooves 36 representing theretracted posi- .tion of the cartridge. The teeth 26 are maintained in`grooves 36 keeping the plunger 24 from rotating. A

recess 38 is provided centrally of the shaft 28 to seat the cartridgeend when the parts are assembled.

The cap 16 of the invention comprises an auxiliary cap 40, and a basecap 41. The auxiliary cap is required to be made of transparentmaterial, while the base cap Amay-be opaque to permit the material ifprinted thereon to be easily visible. The display material may be placedon a 'separate sheet, not shown, and positioned in the compartment 42formed between the caps. The com- If a press t is attempted, theprinting appears distorted. A

j Openings 43 and 44 are formed at the top and bottom ,respectively ofthe auxiliarycap. About the lower opening44, a peripheral recess 46 isprovided for seating a 'flanged ring 48. The base cap tightly tits theauxiliary 'cap at the cartridge end, to seal the compartment.

At the. top ,and bottom of the base cap, opening 49 and 51 respectivelyare formed. A tubular rivet 50 may be positioned between the auxiliaryand base caps, and inopenings 43 and 49thereof to secure the capspermanently together, asis shown in FIG. 2.- The tubular rivetconstitutes an anchoring means for locking the caps securely. inposition. The lower edge 47 of the base cap .41 extends slightly beyondthe corresponding edge 45I of the auxiliary cap .40. I have found thatthis "provides a supplementary seal with the ring 4S.

` The base cap 41a maybe modiiied as is shown in ing 49a to fit in theopening 43 of the auxiliary cap 40. This mayebe used if a removable griptype of clip is contemplated for the pen.

A permanent type of pen clip 52 having an opening 54 in a transverselyextending plate 56, may be interposed between the rivet 50 and theauxiliary cap 40, or under the bead 50a of the auxiliary cap 41a, tosupport the pen to a coat or vest pocket.

The clip 52a may be modified, as is shown in FIG. 5, by forming adownwardly extending tubular neck 58 in the plate 56a, which can bestacked to form a rivet head, securing the auxiliary and base capstogether.

The opening 60 of the rivet 50, the opening 49a in the beaded base cap41a, and the opening 60a of the tubular neck 58 of clip 52a, permit thepush plunger 24 to extend therethrough for manipulation by the thumb forproject or retract operation.

When the cap parts are assembled, the ring 48 which may be metal ispositioned over the ends of the assembled caps, and seated in the recess46 of the auxiliary cap to provide a cover for the lower junction of theauxiliary and base caps and to help seal the two caps. The clip issecured in the same operation that connects the eyelet. Theproject-retract mechanism parts are then -fortable shape.

area.

inserted, the spring and cartridge seated in the barrel and the unitarycap structure with the project-retract mechanism threaded thereto.

A shoulder `may be formed peripherally on the barrel to permit the capto fit smoothly on the outer surface of the barrel, as is shown in FIG.l.

The structure of auxiliary and base caps with the pen clip forms aunitary 4assembly with the printed or decorative material. The cartridgemay be replaced without disturbing the cap parts.

If the permanent rivet structure is employed, the printed or decorativematerial may be sealed in the cap for the life of the pen. The caps arethen more or less tamperproof.

The pen clip may be employed for sealing the parts Ypermanentlytogether. This is accomplished without drilling holes through the sidewall of the cap, as is conventionally done.

The printed or decorative material may be viewed without obstructioneven when in use. The printed and advertising material is contained in asealed compartment free of dust and moisture.

The barrel of the pen is gradually tapered near thev writing point toprovide .a streamlined and more corn- The tapering, however, diminishesthe level area available for display purposes, a disadvantage notpresent if the display area is provided in the cap.

By lengthening the cap structure to a greater degree than is found inpresent pens, extra `space may be provided for advertising display,insuring maximum display For example if the length of the cap is greaterthan the length of the barrel, more visible display area is obtainedthan is otherwise possible.

In addition, the diameter of the inner barrel is restricted to passthrough the threaded neck portion of the outer barrel. This restrictionneed not be present when the display is provided in the cap. A largerdiameter cap, with additional display space, may thus be obtained.

The form of the parts and their assembly lend themselves to high speed,economical production.

I have thus described my invention, but I desire it kunderstood that itis not'conned to the particular form or uses shown and described, thesame being merely illustrative, and that the invention may be carriedout in other ways without departing from the spirit of my invention, andtherefore I claim broadly the right to employ all equivalentinstrucmentalities coming within the scope of the appended claim, and bymeans of which objects of my invention are obtained and new resultsaccomplished as it is obvious that the particular embodiments hereinshown and described are only some of the many that can be employed toobtain these objects and accomplish these results.

I claim:

1. A display ball-point pen, comprising a barrel, a cartridge land aspringY therein, a display cap therefor comprising a tubular basecapmade of opaque material having engaging means formed on the-inner wallthereof, an outer tubular transparent auxiliary cap positioned over thebase cap and forming a compartment therebetween, said caps provided withtop openings; akhollow fastener for pinching together the two edges ofthe top openings of the auxiliary and base caps to seal the compartment;a plunger mechanism for projecting and retracting the cartridge againstthe action of the spring,

said plunger mechanism slidably extending through the hollow fastenerpositioned in the top opening of said caps, and having means cooperatingwith thecap engaging means for alternately holding the cartridge in aprojected and retracted position, said auxiliary and base caps providedwith bottom openings; `means formed on the inner wall of the base cap;corresponding means formed on the outer Wall of the barrel forengagingthe means on the base cap, means for securing the edge of thebottom opening of the auxiliary cap to the edge of the bottom opening ofthe base member for'closing the bottom of the compartment.

2. The display ball-point pen of claim 1 wherein the hollow fastenercomprises a metal rivet.

3. The display ball-point pen of claim 1 wherein the hollow fastenercomprises an extension of one of said caps.

4. The display ball-point pen of claim 1 wherein the hollow fastenercomprises a metal extension formed on the end of a clip for the pen.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,272,139

JEROME SCHNALL, Primary Examiner.

LAWRENCE CHARLES, LEONARD W. VARNER, Examiners.

1. A DISPLAY BALL-POINT PEN, COMPRISING A BARREL, A CARTRIDGE AND ASPRING THEREIN, A DISPLAY CAP THEREFOR COMPRISING A TUBULAR BASE CAPMADE OF OPAQUE MATERIAL HAVING ENGAGING MEANS FORMED ON THE INNER WALLTHEREOF, AN OUTER TUBULAR TRANSPARENT AUXILIARY CAP POSITIONED OVER THEBASE CAP AND FORMING A COMPARTMENT THEREBETWEEN, SAID CAPS PROVIDED WITHTOP OPENINGS; A HOLLOW FASTENER FOR PINCHING TOGETHER THE TWO EDGES OFTHE TOP OPENINGS OF THE AUXILIARY AND BASE CAPS TO SEAL THE COMPARTMENT;A PLUNGER MECHANISM FOR PROJECTING AND RETRACTING THE CARTRIDGE AGAINSTTHE ACTION OF THE SPRING, SAID PLUNGER MECHANISM SLIDABLY EXTENDINGTHROUGH THE HOLLOW FASTENER POSITIONED IN THE TOP OPENING OF SAID CAPSAND HAVING MEANS COOPERATING WITH THE CAP ENGAGING MEANS FOR ALTERNATELYHOLDING THE CARTRIDGE IN A PROJECTED AND RETRACTED POSITION, SAIDAUXILIARY AND BASE CAPS PROVIDED WITH BOTTOM OPENINGS; MEANS FORMED INTHE INNER WALL OF THE BASE CAP; CORRESPONDING MEANS FORMED ON THE OUTERWALL OF THE BARREL FOR ENGAGING THE MEANS ON THE BASE CAP, MEANS FORSECURING THE EDGE OF THE BOTTOM OPENING OF THE AUXILIARY CAP TO THE EDGEOF THE BOTTOM OPENING OF THE BASE MEMBER FOR CLOSING THE BOTTOM OF THECOMPARTMENT.